I am watching the NHL finals and as the program begins, I can't help but marvel at how different the two national anthems are.

The first antherm sung was the Star Spangled banner. The singer did a decent job, but it has so many difficult notes and awkward phrases that it just didn't sond right.
What can you expect? That words to the original tune were nothing like what we sing to the Star Spangled Banner.

On the other hand. The singer who was chosen to sing O Canada was having fun with the song just streaming out. He also stopped during his singing to listen to the whole crowd singing at the top of their lungs.

What a difference. Why can't we call the National Anthem (which has been with us only about 85 years of our 200) an optional song and let people sing something that sounds good and means something?